Fastening device.



G. C. SNYDER.

FASTENING DEVICE.

APPLlcAloN man :une Il. |914.

. 1,138,020. Patented my 4, 1915.

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attorney x YNE MORRIS PETERS PHOlD-LITHO.. WSHINGIDN. D. C.

GEORGE C. SNYDEB, OF WATE'BUBiY, GONNECTICUTQ FASTENING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 4, 1915.

Application filed June 11, 1914'. Serial No. 844,434.

T0 all whom t may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE C. SNYDER, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Waterbury, county of New Haven, State of' Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fastening Devices; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the saine.

This invention relates to fastening devices and aims to provide a button fastener having the characteristic features hereinafter set forth.

One of the main objects of the invention is to provide a button involving the use of novel means for firmly and securely attaching the button to the fabric, said means being of such character as to especially adapt the button for use on relatively thin fabrics.

It is a further object of the invention to so construct the attaching means that the button will lie close to the fabric and will, therefore, not become injured during laundrying of the article to which the button is applied.

The invention further contemplates a button in which none of the metal is permitted to come in contact with the wearers body, thus particularly adapting the button for use on under-garments, pajamas, and the like.

In furtherance of these, and other objects that will hereinafter appear, the invention consists in providing a button having a tubular shank portion with a basal inturned flange, and a thimble having relatively thin walls, which is adapted to be forced into the shank of the button and into contact with the head of the button, whereby a portion of the thimble is collapsed and spread radially to lock the thimble in the shank of the button behind the said inturned flange.

The invention further consists in so constructing the said inturned flange that, as the thimble, together with the fabric is forced into the shank of the button, the flange will be deflected to automatically accommodate itself to the thickness of the material to which the button is applied.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure l is an enlarged sectional view of the improved fastener showing the parts in position ready to be assembled; Fig. 2 is a corresponding view showing the position and relation of the several parts at one stage of the assembling operation; Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the parts in their assembled relation and the fastener applied to the fabric; Fig. 4 is a broken sectional view of the improved fastener showing the position and relation of the parts when the fastener is applied to two thicknesses of the fabric; and Figs. 5 and G are corresponding views showing the position and relation of the parts when the fastener is applied to three and four thicknesses of the fabric respectively.

Referring to the drawing, the fastener illustrated therein is of the button type, and comprises a head portion 1 of any suitable construction, and a tubular shank portion 2. At its lowei` edge, the shank portion 2 is provided with an inturned basal flange 3, for the purpose to be hereinafter described.

A tubular thimble 4 is provided, preferably closed and slightly rounded at one end, as best shown in Fig. 2, which is adapted t0 be positioned in telescopic relation with the shank 2 of the button. In Fig. 1, the thimble 4 is shown in position ready to be positioned within the shank 2, and the fabric a, to which the fastener is to be secured, is interposed between the thimble 4 and the button. The plunger' A, of any suitable assembling mechanism, then descends, and, by means of a suitably formed shoulder A thereon, which engages the edge portion of the thimble, the latter is forced together with a portion of the fabric a into the shank 2 of the button, as shown in Fig. 2. The thimble 4 is of such length that during its descent, the end thereof strikes the head of the button, so that further force applied to the thimble by means of the plunger A will tend to upset or collapse that portion of the thimble which lies within the shank 2. As the plunger A further descends from the position shown in Fig. 2, that end of the thimble within the shank expands and spreads radially in all directions, forming an enlarged bulbous head on the thimble, as shown in Fig. 3. The expanded thimble, therefore, fills up practically the entire space within the shank 2, and as the expansion of the thimble takes place behind the flange 3, the thimble is securely and firmly locked within the shank of the button. The fabric a, carried into the shank of the button by the thimble, is, therefore, clamped between the walls of the thimble and all parts of the button into proximity with which the thimble is expanded, as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

The diameter of the thimble is such that as thc thimble, together with the fabric, passes through the opening in the shank 2, the flange 3 will be deflected to substantially the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3. A tight gripping action on the fabric, therefore, results between the inner edge of the flange and the adjacent portion of the thimble, as exemplified at 3, in Fig. 3.

The inturned flange 3 permits the same button to be used on practically all parts of the garment, since the fastener may be as efficiently applied to several thicknesses of fabric as to a single thickness. Fig. 4 shows a button in which the shank theneof and the thimble are of the same size, as in the other figures, but, notwithstanding this fact, the button may be readily attached to two thicknesses of the material, as shown. The external diameter of the thimble and the fabric, as the former passes through the opening in the shank, being greater than in Fig. 2, the inturned flange 3 will be deflected a greater amount than in Figs. 2 and 3, but in its ultimate position, the flange 3 serves to lock the expanded thimble within the shank, and to clamp the fabric therein, in the same manner as in Figs. 2 and 3.

In Fig. 5, the fastener is shown as applied to three thicknesses of material, and as the external' diameter of the thimble and the fabric, as the former passes through the opening in the shank 2, is greater than in the case of Fig. 4, the flange 3 will be defiected a greater amount than in Fig. 4.

In Fig. 6, the button is applied to four thicknesses of the fabric, which deflect the flange 3 to its extreme position in which it is turned inwardly into contacting relation with the walls of the shank of the button. It will be noted that in all these instances, the thimble is collapsed in the same manner as described with respect to Figs. 2 and 3, and that the inturned flange 3 automatically adapts itself to the number of thicknesses of fabric. In each instance, however, the

ultimate relation between the thimble and the inturned flange is such that the thimble is firmly locked within the shank of the button, and the latter is thereby securely attached to the fabric. The inturned flange also serves to grip the fabric in an annular bite, as shown at 3 in Figs. 4 to 6. The expansion of the thimble in each instance, of course, tightly grips the fabric between the expanded walls of the thimble and the adjacent portions of the button, and its shank, as clearly shown in the drawings.

It will be noted that no flange is used on the thimble 4, as it is desirable to force the thimble completely within the shank of the button. In Figs. 3 to 6, inclusive, it will be seen that the edge of the thimble is forced far enough into the shank to prevent any portion of the thimble from coming into contact with the wearers body. The improved fastener is therefore well adapted for use on undergarments, pajamas, etc.

The novel manner of attaching the button to the fabric permits the shank to be made relatively short, therefore allowing the head of the button to lie close to the fabric. This is an extremely advantageous feature as the buttons are less likely to become damaged during laundrying. It is also desirable to make the walls of the shank substantially straight, as shown in the drawing, so that they will be substantially parallel to any forces which tend to pull the thimble from the shank. The Walls of the shank will, therefore, not give or bend under strain and vpermit the thimble to be pulled out of the shank. Obviously, the button will remain attached to the fabric as long as the thimble is held in the shank.

The buttons may be assembled in automatic machines, or the parts of the button may be sold to the public, who may apply the-buttons to the fabric by a suitable handtool`intended for the purpose. The Walls of the thimble are relatively thin and only a slight pressure is necessary to collapse the same, as above described. A small tool suitable for holding the button and for forcing the thimble into place is, therefore, all that is necessary for applying the buttons, and such tools may be cheaply furnished to the public for this purpose.

Obviously, the invention is applicable to other types of fasteners than buttons, the specific type of fastener illustrated being merely exemplary.

What I claim is 1. A fastening device for fabrics and the like, comprising an outer member having a tubular shank provided with an inturned basal flange, a thimble adapted to be positioned in telescopic relation with said shank and to carry a portion of the fabric with it into the shank, said inturned flange adapted to be deflected by the thimble and the fabric during positioning of the former, for the purpose described.

2. A fastening device, comprising a head portion and a tubular shank having substantially straight walls and an inturned basal flange, a tubular thimble adapted to be forced within said shank and against the head portion of the fastening device, the thimble adapted to collapse and expand radially when so forced against said head portion to form a bulbous head thereon to lock the thimble behind said inturned flange.

3. A button fastener, comprising a head portion and a tubular shank having substantially straight Walls and an inturned basal flange, a flangeless tubular thimble adapted to be forced completely Within said shank and against the head portion of the button, the thimble adapted to collapse and expand radially when so forced against the head portion of the button to form a bulbous head thereon to lock the thirnble behind said inturned ange.

4. A button fastener for fabrics and the like, comprising a head portion and a tubular shank provided with an inturned flange, a thimble adapted to be forced in said shank and against the head portion of the button and to carry the fabric With it into said shank, the thimble adapted when so forced against the head portion of the button to collapse and to expand radially to thereby 15 during positioning of the latter to accomrno- 20 date itself to the thickness of the fabric.

In testimony whereof I afIiX my signature, in presence 0f tWo Witneses.

GEORGE C. SNYDER.

Witnesses:

M. A. BiLL, C. B. SCHROEDER.

Copies of'this patent may be obtained for iive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

